Fluid-and dustproof case



Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID- AND DUSTPROOF CASE Bernard Taubert, Geneva, Switzerland Application September 30, 1949, Serial No. 118,843 In Switzerland November 5, 1948 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in fluidtight and dustproof cases which are particularly useful with time-pieces, watches and other instruments requiring precision in their operation.

As features of this invention, the cases object thereof comprise two parts which are encased within each other; one of these parts is provided with at least one spring lock so disposed that the action of the spring on the lock pushes the said look towards the other part, so that the end of the lock sets within a groove or mortise provided for that purpose in the wall of said other part; as the two parts of the case are being fitted together or taken apart, the lock moves inward against its spring, thus escaping the mortise.

These and other features of this invention will appear from the following detailed description and from the attached drawing, which are given by way of illustration, and not as limiting the scope of this invention other than as stated in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a case according to this invention, seen in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 2, partially in cross-section along line II of Fig. 2, and partially as a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section along line Il-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates a variant of the invention, shown as a transverse cross-section along a line corresponding to line IIIIII of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the case comprises a glass or crystal I, a rim 2, a chassis 3 encased in the rim under the glass and having a central circular barrel to receive the watch movement, and a bottom plate or cap 4, adapted to close the bottom of the barrel by threaded joint with the chassis, as shown in Fig. 2, or in any other suitable manner. Packing material, in the form of gaskets, is inserted at 5 between the glass I and the chassis 3 along the inner wall of the rim, as well as at 5a between bottom cap 4 and chassis 3.

In the cases illustrated in the drawing, the rim and the outer periphery of the chassis are rectangu1ar.

On each of opposite sides of its central barrel, chassis 3 is traversed from side to side by a trans verse hole In each of these holes 6 is inserted a spring In Figs. 1 and 2, the spring lock comprises a sheath 1, within which are located two lengths of rod separated about midway of the length of the sheath by means of a coil spring. The outer end or tip of each rod, when the spring is decompressed, protrudes ,from its side of the chassis to fit within a hole or mortise 8 provided in the corresponding side of rim 2. As a result of the use of the coil springs, the rods and their ends are movable, so that they can be retracted within the sheath when the case is assembled or taken apart. In order to avoid that the rods should protrude beyond the outer face of the rim under the action of the spring, the outer end of each rod may be provided with a shoulder, the length of the rod which fits in holes 8 and said holes having a diameter smaller than the rod inside the sheathing. The shoulder thus formed abuts against the inner face of rim 2 and limits the action of the coil spring on the rods.

Instead of having spring locks comprising an outer sheath 1 and inner spring and rods, it is possible to use for each lock merely two rods fit ting within holes '6, separated by a coil spring and provided with end shoulders and smaller diameter tips, the tips fitting in the rims holes 8 and the shoulder limiting the action of the spring and the displacement of the rods, in a manner similar to that previously described.

In the structures so far described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2', it is necessary to depress the ends or tips of the spring locks, by means of a tool, so as to liberate them from holes or mortises 8, whenever the case must be taken apart. The structure shown in Fig. 3 obviates such use of retracting tools. The case shown in Fig. 3 comprises, as did the cases described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2, a glass or crystal I, a rim 3 I, a chassis 3, a bottom closure 4 for the central barrel hole of the chassis, packing glands or gaskets 5 and 5a, and transverse holes 5 in the chassis 3. In the structure shown in Fig. 3, two cylindrical lock pieces 9 and a coil spring l0 separating them are inserted inside each hole 6 of the chassis 3. Spring It tends to force lock pieces 9 toward rim H. The outer ends of the lock pieces 9 and the corresponding locking grooves or mortises l2 on the inner face of the rim are so shaped that these ends slide in or out of the rims grooves l2 without the help of extraneous tools, and merely by pushing chassis 3 inside rim II, or pulling it out of the rim. For this purpose, the tips of the lock pieces 9 and their corresponding grooves 12 on rim 2 may be substantially conical, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may be spherical or of such other shape as will obtain the result here described. In the structures illustrated in Fig. 3, grooves l2 on the inner face of rim ll do not traverse the thickness of 3 the rim, thereby increasing the tightness of the case.

While the case illustrated in the drawing and described in connection therewith is rectangular, the principle of this invention can be adapted to circular or oval cases by merely modifying the profile of the tips of the spring looks and of the mortises which receive them under the action of the springs.

I claim as my invention:

1. A fluidand dust-proof case for time-pieces, comprising a rim, a chassis encased and fitting closely within said rim, a cylindrical barrel-well in said chassis, a hole traversing said chassis from side to side thereof on each side of said barrel-well, a spring lock in each of said holes, each said spring lock consisting of two lock bars a coil spring abutting the ends of and separating the lock bars, mortises in said rim opposite each end of said spring locks, whereby the action of said coil spring locks said chassis and rim together by forcing the ends of said lock bars within said mortises.

2. A fluidand dust-proof case for time-pieces, comprising a rim, a chassis encased and fitting closely within said rim, a well in said chassis, a hole traversing said chassis from side to side REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,793,995 Bulova Feb. 24, 1931 2,028,791 Lynds Jan. 28, 1936 2,187,205 Katz Jan. 16, 1940 2,327,112 Kramer Aug. 17, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 211,142 Switzerland Nov. 1, 1940 212,242 Switzerland Feb. 3, 1941 214,660 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1941 

